Magnetic separator.



N0. 662,4". Patented Nov. 2'7, I900.

E. GATES.

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 14, 1900.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

No. 662,4". Patented Nov; 27, I900. E. GATES.

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 14, 1900.) (No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE Noan'ls PETERS co. PnoYo-m'no WASHINQTON, q.c.

ELMER GATES, OF CHEVY QHASE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THEODORE J. MAYER, OFIVASI-IINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,411, dated November27, 1906.

Application filed April 14, 1900. b'erial No. 12,904. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER GATES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chevy Chase, county of Montgomery, State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Magnetic Separators; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Ina companion application for Letters Patent of the United States filedby me of even date herewith, Serial No. 12,906, I have illustrated anddescribed a form of magnetic separator wherein the material to beseparated is directed by a feed hopper or the like against a travelingbelt or apron moving in front of the face of a magnetic pole energizedto a degree sufficient to cause the paramagnetic particles of thematerial treated to ar range themselves in moss-like or frond-likestructures and having a series of tortuous, wavy, or zigzag magneticfields of force along which the paramagnetic particles move,while thediamagnetic particles as they become disentan gled from theparamagneticparticles fall by gravity into a receiving-hopper intendedfor their collection. a

The present invention relates to a specific embodiment of the genericfeatures of construction illustrated in the application re ferred to.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of amagnetic separator embodying my present improvement. Fig. 2 represents afront elevation of the face of the magnet-pole. Fig. 3 represents a sideelevation of another form or modification thereof, and Fig. 4 representsa front view of the face of the magnet-pole of the modification shown inFig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings, J indicates the energizing-coil of anelectromagnet.

K indicates the core of the electromagnet, which terminates in a polepiece having branches M N at an angle to each other, as shown. In frontof the branch M is located a plate P of non-magnetic material, such asbrass or the like, and an'endless belt or apron A passes over said plateand over the outer face of the upper portion N of the magnetface, saidendless belt being supported by rollers a, any one of which may besuitably driven from a p0.wer-shaft, so as to impart motion to the belt.

In the modification'shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the motion imparted to thebelt is in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. l 7;. e., in adirection downward over the face of the magnet-pole. In thismodification the magnet is provided on its outer surface with a seriesof grooves 0, preferably filled with non-magnetic metal, said groovesbeing of a wavy, zigzag, or tortuous configuration and extendingdownwardly in a general longitudinal direction to the transverse bend ofthe magnet-face, whereupon they diverge in opposite series and finallyreach the outer edge of the magnehpole near the lower end thereof. Bindicates a feed-hopper for the material, -the.discharge end of saidfeed-hopper being of a width substantially equal to that of themagnet-face, so as to utilize the full capacity of the magnet-face forseparation. 0 indicates collecting-hoppers for the paramagneticmaterial, and D a collecting-hopper for the diamagnetic material. Eindicates a cleaning-brush.

The mode of operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is asfollows: The material to be separated is fed from the hopper B upon thesurface of the traveling belt or apron A as the latter passes over theupper portion N of the magnet-face. The paramagnetic n1aterialas, forinstance, magnetic sands-arranges itself immediately in the form ofmoss-like or frond-like structures, and as the belt travels downwardthese structures travel with it and in their endeavor to follow thewavy, zigzag, or tortuous fields of magnetic force the diamagneticmaterial, already partly released by the original formation of saidstructures, becomes more and more disentangled as the structures shiftand alter their formation. This initial separation becomes still furtheraccentuated after the material passes the bend of the magnet-pole andenters the region of the portion M. Here the magnetic fields of forceare diverted toward the right and left, as shown, leaving a freeintermediate space. The paramagnetic material follows the divergingfields of force, and finally by gradual accretions drops from the edgesof the belt or apron A into the re- 'ceiving-hoppers O. The diamagneticmaterialas, for instance, silicious sand or gaugue, or in some instancesdiamagnetic metal, such as free particles of gold or copper-falls intothe receiving-hopper D. In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 theendless band A moves in an opposite direction to that contemplated inFigs. 1 and 2. Consequently the general direction of the grooves c isaltered, so that beginning at the bottom of the magnet-face they mountin a substantially longitudinal direction toward the bend of the magnetand then diverge to the right and left, respectively. In thismodificaton the feed-hopper B discharges near the bottom of themagnet-pole. The receiving-hopper D for the diamagnetic material islocated immediately above the discharge-chute of the feed ing-hopper B.The receiving-hoppers O for the paramagnetic material are located oneither side of the receiving-hopper D. The material to be separatedbeing fed against the apron A at a point near the lower end of themagnet-face is immediately carried upward by the traveling belt,assisted by the attraction and directing influence of the tortuousmagnetic fields of force. The paramagnetic material therefore finallyreaches the extreme upper ends of the diverging magnetic fields of forceand by gradual accretions drops off and falls by gravity into thereceiving-hoppers O, the disentangled diamagnetic particles in themeantime falling into the hopper D.

The function of the rollerE is to clean the belt or apron, if necessary,from any fine particles that would otherwise adhere to the fabric. Itwill also be noted that the plate Pis provided With means for causing itto continuously jostle the traveling band or apron. To this end theplate is adapted to be struck a series of intermittent blows by a rod 0,normally restrained by the spring 6, and having a tooth or projectionfinthe path of the cooperating teeth of a ratchet-wheel g, so

that the rotation of the ratchet-wheel in the direction indicated by thearrow will, in connection with the spring 6, cause the rod 0 to rapidlyreciprocate and correspondingly jar or jostle the plate P, andconsequently the traveling belt or apron. Thejarring effect of thisjostling or motion is to assist in the rearrangement or re-formation ofthe traveling moss-like or f rond-like structures,and thereby furthersthe disentanglement of the diamagnetic particles therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Apparatus forseparating magnetic from diamagnetic material, comprising a magnetpole-piece grooved or recessed to produce a wavy, zigzag, or tortuousdistribution of the effective lines of force, in combination with atraveling screen or apron moving in front of the pole-piece, and meansfor jostling the apron; substantially as described.

2. Apparatus forseparating magneticfrom diamagnetic material, comprisinga magnet pole-piece grooved or recessed to produce a wavy, zigzag, ortortuous distribution of the effective lines of force, said pole-piecehaving a transverse bend substantially midway of its length, so as toform corresponding inclines, in combination with a traveling screen orapron moving in front of the pole-piece; substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for separating magnetic from diamagnetic material,comprising a magnet pole-piece grooved or recessed to produce a wavy,zigzag, or tortuous distribution of the effective lines of force, saidpole-piece having a transverse bend substantially midway of its length,so as to form corresponding inclines, in combination with a travelingscreen or apron moving in front of the pole-piece, and means for causingthe traveling band or apron to move over the pole-piece from be lowupwardly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ELMER GATES.

Witnesses:

J. E. HUTCHINSON, J r., A. E. GRANT.

